Great pack! Have no trouble packing for trips up to a week. The bar shelf on top is a nice feature. My only complaint was the shoulder straps were a little too narrow for my wide neck. -- Commercial Roofing

none so far.

I bought this pack from Sierra Trading Post in 2003 for minimal. It was a closeout. I have used it on several trips and it has performed well. It is not that comfortable after 5 miles if you have a 50 pound load and I think it works better for trips of less than 3 days.But if you inclination is towards lighter weights and shorter distances this could work for you.
There is good access via a panel system and easy when you're resting trailside.
It is quite noisy as it creaks & squeaks with each step.
This is a great place to breaak into to backpacking if you are not sure or have limited finances.
I had no problem with breakage but I treat it delicately. I strapped my bear barrel on top and the sleeping bag underneath: with these torque dynamics you'll be a tad akward except on the flattest trails.

Customer Service

They are very good, they sent me spare cleavage pins an were quite couteous.

Similar Products Used:

Gregory G pack, Outdoor products Adrenaline pack

its really comfortable and light, packs well, but one of the shoulder strap eyeholes did break on me after about 100 miles. probably because i was averaging 60 pounds of load, but still a great pack for the price and definitely good enough for any beginner or intermediate backpacker.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! Try walking down a path with 36 pounds on your back, with everything cinched down tightly... and instead of hearing the birds, brooks, and breeze... all you'll hear is: Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! unfortunately, after numerous applications of various lubricants on the pins, I can't get away from the incessant squeaking! the pin and post design is great for ledning out to beginners who are just trying to figure out if they like 'packing... however, this pack lacks the customization featured on internal frame packs. (ie load lifters, sternum strap, and compression straps) all of which helps make things feel lighter. also, for the reviewer immediately before mine: i managed to start the fraying process on that bottom strap. Too bad i didn't think of the duct tape solution! To the novice: if you're already spending this much, try to find a Dana external frame, and a smaller, more compressible sleeping bag. I guarantee you'll have a better chance of falling in love with 'packing.

Customer Service

never bothered.

Similar Products Used:

External: Various brands; Coleman peak series; Dana Longbed (or Shortbed?) Internal: Jansport; Gregory; Dana

None

I''ve been using this pack on 1-3 night trips for several years now, into the California High Sierras. Although it took a few trips to get the thing adjusted so it wouldn''t thrash my shoulders, it''s quite comfortable. It has held up quite well, with no failures (not even a zipper!). I don''t like the strap that goes from the pack and around the frame on the bottom. When I take breaks, I leave the pack on and rest it on a rock. Well, that strap gets scraped and could wear out and break; so wrapped it in duct tape to reduce the wear (it seems to have done the trick). I''ve never had a major amount of rain dump on me, so I don''t know how waterproof it is. It has plenty of room to spare for the length of trips I take. I really like the openings for fishing poles on the side of the pack; my pole pieces fit perfectly. I''ve taken ''moonwalks'' weighing 60-70 lbs with no problems. Recently I started buying lighter gear; I''m down to 35-40 lbs (including food, water, fishing gear, and a backpacker guitar). When/if I get a different pack, I''ll try the Mountainlight Ghost 3000 (when/if I get the money!). I''d recommend this pack to anyone (especially beginners).

Similar Products Used:

None

Great pack! Have no trouble packing for trips up to a week. The bar shelf on top is a nice feature. My only complaint was the shoulder straps were a little too narrow for my wide neck. A small drill bit and two wider holes easily solved that problemI have the large which is rated at 5225 cubic inches. The only drawback to the large pack is with a sleeping bag strapped to the bottom and a tent strapped to the top, it's hard to find a pack raincover to fit it. Not really a problem for me though. Even with five days worth of stuff I can still get my sleeping bag inside the pack! Love the panel load feature!

Customer Service

Haven't dealt with Jansport customer ser. yet, but heard nothing but good about them.

Similar Products Used:

Kelty Trekker

Good Value for the money. Lots of room to store your gear. Well thought out dimensions and pocket size.

Similar Products Used:

None

So far, a good pack. I have a Kelty Tempest which was fine for lugging books around campus, but I needed something larger for hikes. Being a broke college student, money was a concern so Lowe Alpine and North Face are out of the picture. But after taking the Rainier out several times, I'm glad I bought it. The bar shelf on top is a brilliant addition making a perfect spot for the tent. Enough room for a 5-6 days if you're conservative with space. The hip belt is well padded and has a grippy rubber to help prevent sagging, but the shoulder straps are less than desirable, but easily replaces. Anyway, the curved frame tranfers weight well to the hips so the thin shoulder straps are tolerable. The adjustment screws on the crossbar did start digging into my shoulders, but some bandanas tied around them solved it. My only question is durablity since I've heard mixed results about Jansport. But the 430and 600d nylon is higher than on other packs that I have owned that lasted well.

Similar Products Used:

Kelty Tempest

Just finished a 50 mile backpacking trip and the Rainier performed very well. It carried the weight (about 50 lb) without tiring me. I do wish the overall material was more waterproof (rained a LOT), the zipper covers (with draw-string)were more pronounced to keep water out and the upper shoulder support copied the lumbar pad.
I will seriously consider the Napali model when I give the Rainier to my son.

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No other reviews.

I have an older version of this pack and have gotten a lot of good use out of it. The comfort is acceeptable, and plenty of well-placed pockets make this one of the more convenient packs to use.
I did have one problem: when very heavily loaded, the leather holding the waistbelt onto the metal frame ripped out.
Jansports obviously aren't the high end, but they are good for beginners and for the money.

Similar Products Used:

None